Google exec & social networking chief Vic Gundotra leaves company

Vic Gundotra, an outspoken member of Google's executive team who spearheaded the company's Google+ social networking service and oversaw its early mobile applications, has left the company after an 8-year tenure, he announced on Thursday.

Appropriately, Gundotra announced his departure via his official Google+ account, where the executive said he's headed on a "new journey," but declined to say where he might end up. In addition to creating Google+ and being responsible for the company's initial mobile applications initiatives, Gundotra also started the annual Google I/O conference, where the company historically has unveiled advancements to its Android mobile operating system.

It was at Google I/O in 2010 that Gundotra and Google came out swinging against rival Apple, comparing the iPhone maker to "Big Brother." The comments were a reference to Apple's iconic "1984" advertisement, which itself was an allusion to George Orwell's classic novel of a dystopian future.

"If Google did not act, we faced a Draconian future where one man, one company, one device, one carrier would be our only choice," Gundotra said in 2010. "That's a future we don't want."

Prior to joining Google in 2007, Gundotra spend 15 years at Microsoft, where he eventually became the company's general manager of platform evangelism.

Google Chief Executive Larry Page responded publicly with a note to Gundotra thanking him for his tenure at the company, and wishing him luck on his "next project."

Vic is an great guy, I've met him a few times at Google io the guy is passionate about everything he does and will go out of his way to meet and talk to you. Big lost, can't wait to see what he does next.

Wow, this is the guy I liked most at Google. Notice how none of the headlines insinuate that he's leaving Google because he believes the company is doomed, or because of internal strife that could tear the company apart- like the rumors that prop up after anyone leaves Apple, even after 30 years (like Christie)

Why is there ALWAYS someone who posts a message like this whenever AI has an article that is clearly relevant to its readership and to the world that Apple exists in, just because the article isn't specifically about Apple themselves? Why must these people be so pedantic about what type of articles THEY think are suitable to appear on AI?